Reproduction issues in livestock species significantly impact producers and consumers alike, affecting the bottom line and ultimately the cost of meat. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, reproductive failure leads to millions of dollars in lost profits annually. In response, the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science is investing in a new $13-million Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Center. The center will enhance the department’s teaching, research, and outreach capacity, focusing on addressing known reproductive issues in livestock species.
New Center for Innovation and Collaboration
The Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Center will be situated on the 2,400-acre Texas A&M-RELLIS campus in Bryan, scheduled for completion in late 2024. The facility will offer teaching rooms, areas for handling animals, and a specialized research lab space to benefit academic and industrial partners.
The Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Animal Science has earned national and worldwide acclaim for its ground-breaking scientific investigations. Through academic and industry-partnered research, the new center will intensify its pursuit of innovation and cooperation with a focus on advancing knowledge of animal reproduction at the molecular, cellular, and whole-animal levels.
Industry Partnerships and Collaboration
The department and the industry. have joined forces to create the Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Center to provide scientific reproductive efficiency and reduce the financial loss for producers. The vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Jeffrey W. Savell, Ph.D., highlights the benefits of industry partnerships and notes that they are essential to Texas A&M AgriLife’s ability to stay responsive to the demands of the sector.
The head of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, G. Cliff Lamb, Ph.D., recognizes the need to produce reliable and sound science for collaborators. While attempting to provide translational research that results in establishing sustainable livestock systems with local, national, and international consequences, he emphasizes the necessity of creativity and entrepreneurship in supporting programs.
The new Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Center at Texas A&M will be crucial for instructing and preparing students and stakeholders on the most recent findings and insights required to increase animal agriculture’s production efficiency and improve human health. In addition, the center aims to address the crucial problem of reproductive failure in livestock species and enhance the sustainability and profitability of animal production systems for the benefit of producers, consumers, and the larger global community. This is done by encouraging innovation and collaboration through academic and industrial partnerships.
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